Vertically adjustable table



June 1952 A. L. SAFSTROM VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TABLE Filed May 31, 1951 IIl 9 r (7 w 7// 7/ 7 W N e. M

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Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TABLE Alden L. Safstrom, South Gate, Calif.

Application May 31, 1951, Serial No. %9,139

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a vertically adjustable table.

More specifically stated, the present invention pertains to improvements upon the type of table wherein table top carried upper legs are telescopically related to a lower leg structure and a means is provided for maintaining the upper and lower leg structures in various, vertically adjusted relations.

A considerable number of tables of the above mentioned type have already been patented. Nevertheless an investigation of the prior art has disclosed the fact that room still remains for improvement in regard to simplification of structure and the provision of a kind of table that will more safely support the table top in various elevated positions when it is necessary that it sustain a considerable weight.

Also, heretofore adjustable tables have not been constructed in such a manner as to render vertical adjustment of them safe and easy while they are supporting sets of dishes or other fragile articles.

An object of the invention is to provide, in conjunction with other improvements, a more quickly adjustable means for varying the height of the table, simply by a slight horizontal movement of the table top preparatory to raising or lowering it to the desired extent.

A more specific object is to provide, for a vertically adjustable table top, a set of table leg receiving boots and cooperating table top carried legs, wherein the lower end portions of said legs and the interior portions of said boots are so recessed and beveled as to provide a simplified, more dependable structure for supporting the table top at different heights. I

By this invention a vertically adjustable table top is provided which eliminates use of pins or other detached or movable elements, and wherein each adjustment is effected by a simple lifting, lateral shifting and raising or lowering of the table top and legs carried thereby, and this operation may be safely performed while dishes or other fragile articles are supported upon the top of the table.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing. which illustrates a preferred, reduced to practice embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective View, on a smaller scale than the remaining views, of the complete table showing the same with its top adjusted to an elevated position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical section of a corner portion of the lower unit of the table, the cooperating corner portion of the upper unit being shown in elevation. In this view a fragment of the table top together with one of its legs is shown in full lines in the highest'of the threeadjustments of which the device is capable, phantom lines showing said table top fragment and leg in the lowest position.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but showing the table top in the intermediate adjustment.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. I

Referring in detail to' the drawing, the structure therein shown comprises a table top 1 carrying in a conventional manner four like supporting legs 8 each of which is rectangular in cross section.

The above mentioned parts form an upper unit which cooperates with a lower unit comprising four tubular lower leg sections or boots o which are substantially square in cross section, at each end of the table a pair of these boots being rigidly connected to each other 'by a horizontal crosspiece l0' preferably secured to the upper part of each boot in the countersunk manner illustrated in Fig. 1. said crosspieces are, in turn, centrally secured to each other by a horizontal tie board I I the width of which extends vertically, this frame structure being completed and stabilized by an' underlying base board l2 secured both to said tie board 'and to the under sides of said crosspieces IO', the width of the latter board extendin horizontally.

Each of said boots IO contains a vertical post Li having a width equal to the internal width of the boot and a breadth equal to substantially onehalf of the other internal dimension of the square boot which contains said post. Said post will be held in this position within the boot in a friction tight or other desired manner, and is shown having its lower end flush with the lower end-of 'the tubular boot in which it is contained, thus stabilizing it against downward displacement when it performs its table top supporting function as hereinafter explained. The length of each of said posts is considerably less than that of the boot which contains it, so that the top of the post is considerably below the top of the boot.

Each of said posts is beveled across its upper end as indicated at IS, with a bevel which is upwardly inclined in relation to the space within the boot alongside the post. Each table top carried leg 8 cooperates with a boot and its contained post, the leg being cut away at I'I across its entire width (but not as to its breadth) for a considerable distance upwardly from its lower end, the cut away part being acutely angular at its upper end so as to provide an acutely angular downwardly directed shoulder !8 which may seat upon the upper part of the aforesaid post bevel !6, as shown in Fig. 3. Each said leg is also beveled at [9, across its narrowed lower end portion, and when the leg is laterally shifted in relation to the boot. from the position of Fig. 3 to that of'Fig. 2 said. leg bevel l9 may be caused to seat upon the top of the post in the manner illustrated in the latter View.

Considering each cooperating leg and boot structure from a different viewpoint, it may be u said that the lower end portion of the leg is prolaterallyfrom-itsseated position and maintain it in a positive manner in its adjusted position.

When the legs are shifted into 'the spaces within the boots alongside the posts, as indicated in broken lines inFig, 2, the table top will, rest upon the upper ends of the boots and upon the frame m s u' and H, in which position the device may-be used. as a cofiee table. When adjusted theintermediate position; the table may be used asan Omament support, and, when inthe highest position be made to serve other purposes.

T he legs, l o should be slightly narrower than thespajce; within the boots, and also not quite so broad; as said space, so .that working clearances wi Lresult as clearly shown in Fig. 4-. V

When, for example, thetable top is in its most el zated-postion for use as a card players table and it is desired to utilize the same as a table for ser ving cofieeor other beverages, allthatis necesary.- to do is for two people at opposite sides thqreoi to liftthe table toptogether with its attachedlegs, sufiiciently to cause the lower ends of saicklgsto clear thetops of the posts in the boots, 94 31 8& said legs may be shifted laterally and then lowerec to aposition wherein they occupythe spaces, in: the boots alongside said post, thus allowing the table top to rest upon the top of the lower u itoi-thestructure.

u LA; .cooperatng table top carried leg and means for-rncunnssaidhg .at various heights cgmprising a tubular boot which is rectangular in cross section, and a table leg supporting vertical postlocated withinand extending along a side pprtion-otsaid boot, said post being beveledaeross its upper end with a bevel which is upwardly inclined in relation to the space within the boot alongside said post, and the table top carried leg which cooperates with said boot having an acutely angular recess in one side of its lower end portion, said recess fitting over the point portion of the beveled part of said post to support said leg, the lateral extent of the recess in the leg being less than the width of the beveled part of said post, so that said leg may be raised from its aforesaid position and then moved horizontally to a position where its lower extremity is seatable upon said beveled end of said post, the lower extremity of said leg being beveled at the same angle as the upper end of said post so as flatwise to abut the latter.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 and there being within said' boot, alongside of said post a sufliciently wide space to accommodate said leg when the leg is positioned within the boot at a lower level than when in either of' its aforesaid two adjusted positions.

3. The subject matter of claim. 1 and there being, in said boot alongside saidpost a space of greater width and greater breadth than the post, so that the leg may be lowered into: said space.

4. A table top structure' comprising a set of table top carried legs, a set of bootswherein the individual legs of said set areinterconnected and are pcsitioned for having all of said legs inserted at the same time into them, all of said legs being beveled across their lower ends with bevels lying in parallel planes, means attached interiorly to each of said boots and providing therein an upwardly inclined shoulder at one side of the-boot extending part way thereacross and. in a considerably spaced relation to the opposite side of the boot, said shoulders and table leg bevels beingat the same inclination and eachof said legs having a. cross section which admits it into the boot therefor either in an-uppe' positionwithithe bevel of the leg superimposed upon the bevel' of. the shoulder, or with the legs extending downwardly into the boots below said shoulders whenthe legs are moved laterally and the lower side of the table top rested upon the upper ends of said boots.

ALDEN L. SAFSTROM.

REFERENCES CITED The. following references. areof record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES` PATENTS Number Name Date.

314331 Hardy Mar. 31,1885 806;485 Parker Dec.`5, 1905 1,158,305 Schmeling Oct. 26, 1915 1,372,626 Michaels Mar. 22, 1921 2,378,852 James June 19"1945 2368356. Alexander May 3, 1949 2,551,766" Service May 8; 1951' 

